"COLONIAL CANNIBALS.'’

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3393, 8 December 1911, Page 8

"COLONIAL CANNIBALS.'’

REMARKABLE FOOTBALL YARN. KANGAROOS ACCUSED OF BITING. Thu “Widnes Weekly News” of Friday, October 13, gives the following extraordinary report of the football match between the Kangaroos and Wid'nes under the following headings: “Colonial Football at Whines.” "A Reply to Critics.” “Two Local Players Bitten by Opponents,” “Unpaivtllokd Scene of Roughness and Foul Play”:— The visit of the Australasian team to Widnes on Wednesday to meet the local team on the Lowerhouse-lane ground was provocative of the most disorderly scenes witnessed in recent years at a Northern Union game in the chemical centre.

A. reputation f<xr smart football and clever tactics had preceded the colonials, and while few were so sanguine as to believe that the homesters would bo the first to administer defeat, the majority of the 30(H) strotators anticipated a game in which the visitors would give glimpses of their reputed brilliance, and the “Chemicals” would put up a strong defence. From the moment of the kick-off it was obvious that the colonials would not be content to rely upon the allround superiority which their apparent weight and great speed afforded them. Their methods were marked by n beget her unnecessary vigor, and often ■ ordered on the unscrupulous. As the game progressed this disposition became increasingly evident, and the second ha if was a succession of disgraceful incidents.

The trouble was initiated amongst the forwards, who. as is well-known, make no pretence of packing. When Whines failed to break away as quickly as their opponents desired they repeatedly .got in “uppercuts” with their fists The principal offender was Parinodv, who made his first appearance in the visiting team, and whose behavior necessitated an early caution from the referee. Cautioning, however, did not suffice, and when he and Lloyd got at loggerheads they were both ordered off. Due of the scrummages next developed into a scrambling fight, and as Noon and Holloway were the most noticeable, they too were dismissed.

A GREAT TEAM. As public interest has been transferred from the run of the game itself to the comments of certain critics appearing in yesterday’s “sporting” press little need bo said. At the interval the Australians were 10 points in front. Gilbert and Broomham scoring tries after lucky breakaways. Francis added the points in both cases. The second half had only been in progress five minutes when 10 more points wore added, Courtney and M'Cue being the scorers, and Francis goaling. Towards the close Courtney again crossed; Francis failed at goal. Tlius the visitors won by 23 points to nil. As has been already said, the colonials are admitted, by* friend and critic alike, to be a great team, and there was never any pretence of Whines robbing them of _ their _ record. It is therefore utterly inexplicable why a team of such cleverness and ability to succeed by legitimate methods should seek to become the hooligans of the football field, and should have originated and maintained Wednesday’s disgraceful tie-tics.

There is no obligation here to follow the example of Manchester exports and whitewash a team whose questionable play is already becoming notorious in Northern Union circles; there is no necessity to talk fatuit:>usl v and' tell men who conducted themselves as did the Australians that “they ought to Vmore earerul where they put. their feet in the open.” Nor yet uesd efforts Ik* made to demonstrate that Widnes wore blameless. They played as badly, and no u'oi'se. than any Northern Union team opposed by 13 players whoso expressed and implied intention is to win at all costs.

FINDING A SCAPEGOAT. Such an obvious desire to overlook colonial shortcomings deceives nobody. •*' scapegoat Lad to be found, and It va .s, much more convenient to belabor V* idiies. ol crmp u -ativ:• insignificance, tlian to have the unpleasantness which would surely follow the drubbing of a strong touring combination, whose offiiials aie the sources of all information.

7 ken we have another critic advising Aid lies ‘‘to turn the < thcr cheek” to men who had already savagely bitten one. Says this writer :

Now, when the Australasian torward began his game Widnes made tile mistake of retaliating by foul means. They were not, to begin until, so Lad as the visitors, of whom I* raricis and Hollowav had also to be reprimanded by the official for efforts ™' h ;a-re .not permissible, but tlu-v duly developed with time. ; . n d I should say that demons must l 1 ive < uicd into the six forum iris, for some of their footwork and some of their handiwork was brutal. T liavo .no otil(,i- name for re. l'lmy may have been aggravated. . That has nothing to do until the matter. The tenets of fair sport do not permit retaliation, and mere hospitalit v railed f'r mane respect for the stranger within their gates. But Widiie;; thought nothing °i tin's, if they could not take it- nut of tlicir opponents one way they took jolly good care to force it another. .And T fancy that even this Manehcster expositor c-f the meek and lowlv gos|K-l. would have develo|K‘d a little of ilm denwnd had he bad the teeth of an .Australasian buried in his face, as did Lloyd, who exhibited the marks at the close °f the match, am! -also N-.0r., w.ho was twice bitten. 11 u curious fact that all the critics agree that the colonials began ilie rough play, and having said so they bave the amazing effrontery to chastise 'Yidnes for not allowing the visitors to i Low. the irP bent. ol thair cannibalistic (sic) ins thuds.

It would be highly interesting to know what they thiivk Manchester way oi !!: >. b 'ha’ ior r i these paragons after the match As guc-te they had the privilege of <lriving to the Grosvenor llofci'l, the AYidnes team following on feet- When the hotel was reached it was -found tint the Australasians had not waited for the courtesies of the table to be performed, but bad attacked him delicacies m!ready mi the table—jollies, bhnie mange, and fruit—in the most revolting fashion. When dinner corn liuled they left the tab'e without a word, and thus ended the day according to their most improved methods.